FG Mandates Nationwide Academic Credential Verification for All Staff
The Federal Government has announced the commencement of nationwide academic credential verification for all staff and recruits across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), as well as higher institutions, effective October 6, 2025.
The directive was contained in a circular issued by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, dated August 8 and released to journalists in Abuja on Wednesday.
According to the circular, the exercise will be conducted through the National Credential Verification Service (NCVS), a component of the Nigeria Education Repository and Databank (NERD) programme.
The initiative, approved by the Federal Executive Council and introduced in March 2025 by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, seeks to combat academic fraud and restore credibility to Nigeria’s education system.
Under the NERD framework, all academic certificates and transcripts will carry security features, including a National Credential Number (NCN) and QR codes, while records will be stored in a central, verifiable digital repository.
Senator Akume emphasized that no appointment or confirmation of appointment will be processed without clearance from NCVS.
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“Effective from October 6, 2025, all MDAs and higher institutions in Nigeria—civilian, military, public or private—must verify the academic credentials of existing and intending staff through the NCVS. Each clearance will authenticate the qualifications presented before any appointment is confirmed,” the SGF stated.
He added that the reform marks a clear departure from the old system, which relied solely on individual institutions for verification. The new standard introduces a national, tamper-proof quality assurance mechanism.
Dr. Alausa explained that the policy will eliminate the menace of fake degrees and bogus honours that have plagued Nigeria’s education sector for decades. “Every certificate, diploma, or award presented in Nigeria must now be traceable, verifiable, and validated at the click of a button,” he said.
Haula Galadima, Executive Director of Communication and Cybersecurity for the NERD programme, confirmed readiness for nationwide deployment. She urged MDAs, tertiary institutions, and private organizations to register their NERD focal persons and digitisation officers via the agency’s website.
Galadima described NERD as a federal initiative that safeguards education integrity, strengthens national security, and enhances the global competitiveness of Nigeria’s academic system.
The NERD Governing Council is chaired by the Minister of Education and includes the leadership of the National Universities Commission (NUC), the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), the National Library, and the Nigeria Data Protection Commission, among others.
By PRNigeria
